Tickled by her own imagination, Alessia leaned down and pressed a tender kiss to Milo’s forehead.His sleep-ruffled hair tickled her lips.‘Morning,’ she said softly. ‘Breakfast’s on the table, honey. Aunt Veronica will take you to school later.’Milo’s eyes fluttered open, still groggy from sleep.His voice held a hint of protest as he murmured, ‘You’re leaving already? It’s only six thirty.’Alessia brushed a strand of hair from his forehead, her smile warm and reassuring. ‘Mommy has to go into work early today.’Her mind buzzed with the tasks that awaited her—she needed to organise her notes from the previous night, to produce a first draft of the cocktail party fluff piece, and to go over the order of upcoming interviews with Miss Hicks.She was happy to be busy; it meant her career was moving forward.Milo’s voice pulled her from her thoughts as he offered a sleepy goodbye.She pressed another kiss to his cheek, her heart swelling with maternal affection. ‘Goodbye, my love. Be go
Alessia’s gaze hardened. ‘We all have our struggles, Connie. I’m not responsible for yours. Excuse me, I have to get to work.’With that, Alessia turned and started walking away.‘Brayden never loved me!’ Connie shouted. ‘I know that. We’ve been married for six years, but I know he still loves you.’Alessia’s steps faltered.She let out a frustrated sigh, her patience wearing thin as she turned to face Connie. ‘What’s wrong with you and your husband? Can’t you take your family drama elsewhere and stop turning up like an unwanted penny? I’m busy with work.’Tears streaked down Connie’s cheeks, smudging her carefully applied makeup, and Alessia winced at the clownish sight.‘It’s been six years,’ Connie continued, her voice quivering with raw emotion. ‘But everything I’ve done is just a joke to him. He doesn’t love me. That night six years ago, you lost a boyfriend, and I lost my dignity.’Alessia’s frustration mounted, her voice laced with exasperation. ‘Must you dredge up the past at
Wilda shook her head. ‘Alessia, you know that won’t cut it. This article is the lead in our series, and I want it to be perfect. I want you to get Mr Wilde to sign off on it. If that means buttering him up or kissing ass, then so be it. It’s all part of the game, part of how things work in this industry.’Alessia let out a resigned sigh.As much as she wanted to avoid Logan, she knew that Wilda was right.This was her job, her career, and sometimes she had to make uncomfortable concessions to ensure success.She nodded reluctantly. ‘Fine, I’ll go.’Wilda’s lips curved into a satisfied smile. ‘That’s the spirit, Alessia. I know you can handle this. Just remember, charm him, and make sure he signs off on that article. It’s essential for our series.’***Alessia dragged her feet down the gleaming halls of Skye Tower, her steps deliberate as if she had a point to prove.Each click of her heeled boots echoed through the opulent expanse, a rhythm of defiance against the polished marble floo
‘I lied.’ Logan’s lips curled into a smirk. ‘No cameras here.’Before Alessia could protest further, his lips descended onto hers.Her resolve wavered as she felt his familiar taste, her mind hurtling back to the dream last night.The kiss was a tempestuous collision of conflicting desires – his relentless pursuit against her stubborn resistance.Her heart raced, a fierce battle between the longing she had suppressed and the fear that held her back.Logan’s fingers tangled in her hair as he deepened the kiss, his dominance asserting itself with each caress.He could taste the hesitation on her lips, the struggle within her.His hand travelled slowly down her back, leaving a trail of heat in its wake.Alessia’s breath hitched as his hand settled at the curve of her waist, his touch igniting a fire within her.She could feel his desire, his hunger, but her mind was a whirlwind of conflicting emotions.She pushed against his chest, breaking the kiss with a gasp.‘No, Logan,’ she breathed
Alessia leaned back against the mirrored walls, her fingers pressed against her still-racing heart.The memory of Logan’s gaze, his teasing words, and that last reminder lingered in her mind.Truth be told, he wasn’t the only one who couldn’t wait for the week to be over.The lift doors opened, and Alessia stepped out into the bustling lobby, the energy of the city enveloping her.***The weekend stretched ahead, uneventful in its calm.Alessia welcomed the peace that settled around her like a comforting embrace.She spent the days with Veronica and Milo, the laughter of her little family becoming the soundtrack of her world.The absence of Brayden and Connie felt like a sigh of relief, a temporary respite from their overbearing presence.As the days rolled on, a sense of quiet contentment settled over Alessia.She found solace in the simple pleasures of life – shared meals, bedtime stories, and endless giggles.Yet, beneath the surface, a restlessness lingered, a craving for somethin
Tuesday dawned with an air of anticipation that clung to Alessia like a second skin.Restless energy coursed through her veins from the moment she woke up, an undercurrent of anxiety that refused to be ignored.Each passing hour felt like an eternity, the hands of the clock mocking her impatience.Then, like a lifeline in the midst of her restlessness, the phone call came.She snatched up her phone, her heart pounding, and hit the answer button with trembling fingers.‘Miss Jansen, this is Dr Schmidt from the hospital,’ the voice on the other end began. ‘I’m calling to inform you that the DNA report you requested is now available for collection.’Alessia’s breath caught in her throat, her pulse quickening.The moment of truth had arrived.She had been waiting for this, hoping for it, dreading it – all in equal measure.She fought to steady her voice as she responded, ‘Thank you, Doctor. I’ll come to collect it today.’Miss Hicks granted her the leave she needed, and Alessia wasted no
The conference room was shrouded in tense silence.The meeting had been in progress for over half an hour, and everybody, except the boss, couldn’t wait to escape.Logan Wilde stood at the head of the table, his gaze piercing through each member of his cryptocurrency division like a laser.‘You call yourselves experts?’ Logan’s voice cut through the room, his words sharp and unforgiving. ‘You failed to see the shifting tides in the market, and now we’re facing a loss in profit that should never have happened.’He leaned forward, his hands planted firmly on the table, his eyes ablaze with a mix of anger and frustration. ‘In this business, you need to be sharp, you need to anticipate changes before they even happen. Our competitors are always one step ahead, and we need to be two steps ahead if we want to survive.’Marcus Laroche, the division head, shifted uncomfortably, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.Mr Wilde had been in a bad mood since Monday morning, and everyone did their
Logan cleared his throat and rapped his knuckle on the desk. ‘Well?’‘What?’ Alessia blinked, her mind pulled back to the present.‘What are you doing here?’ he asked again.Alessia’s hand reached into her bag and fingered the DNA report, then she paused.She remembered what Logan said about children.Milo looked so much like him.What if Logan wanted to keep Milo to himself once he knew?Or, what if he didn’t?If Logan took Milo away, Alessia would be sad.If Logan refused to acknowledge Milo’s existence, Milo would be sad.D*mned if she did, d*mned if she didn’t.Alessia bit her bottom lip.Maybe she shouldn’t have come here so fast.She herself hadn’t had time to fully absorb the news yet, let alone drop such a bombshell on the unsuspecting Logan.What if he thought she was lying?Logan stared at Alessia and saw all kinds of emotion chase after one another across her face: doubt, hesitation, concern, even indignation.His brows were drawn tightly together now.What the hell was goi